Birmingham, Jul 4 (PTI) Harry Brook and Jamie Smith scored fluent unbeaten centuries to take England to 355 for 5 at tea, frustrating the Indian bowlers on day three of the second Test here on Friday.

After India pacer Mohammed Siraj provided back-to-back breakthroughs in only the second over of the day by getting rid of the dangerous Joe Root (22) and captain Ben Stokes for a first-ball duck, India ran into the gritty Brook and Smith who scored unbeaten 140 and 157 respectively.

They shared an unbroken 271-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

England, who were at one point staring at the prospect of a follow-on earlier during the day when they were reduced to 84/5, are now 232 runs short of India’s first-innings total of 587.

Smith was the first to complete his century just before lunch, while overnight batter Brook reached the landmark soon after the break.

Brief Score: India 1st innings: 587 all out England 1st innings: 355 for 5 in 75 overs (Jamie Smith 157 batting, Harry Brook 140 batting; M Siraj 3/57, Akash Deep 2/70). PTI AM AM AT AT

Category: Breaking News

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